Balls



-8 SheetsaSh'eet 1.

(No Model.)

W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR. MAKING BALLS.

No. 333,301. Patented Deo.'29, 1885'.-

(No Model.) 8SheetS-Sheet'2. W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKINGBALL'S. No. 333,301. Patented Dec. 29., 1885.

N PETERS. Pholo-Lilhogmphcr. Wasmnglon. ac.

. 8 sheets -sheet 3. (No Model.) W. HILLMANI v MAOHINE- FOR MAKINGBALLS. No. 333,301. PatentedfDec. 29, 1885-. v

I liillimillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllill N. PETERS.Phoko-Llfiwgrapher. wnmnmun. D. c.

Y 8.Sheets -Sheet L (No Model.)

W. HILLMAN;

MACHINE FOR MAKING BALLS.-

Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

N. PEIERS. PholvLilhugmpher. Washington. D. C.

Nu/10am. s sheets-sheet- 5.

W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BALLS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

(No Model.)

w 8 Sheets-Sheet; 6. W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BALLS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1885 MWIEHHHI I N. PETERS Plwkbljlhographun Wlshingtan. DC.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7. W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BALLS.

No. 333,301. Patented Dec. 29 1885.

s FhoQo-Litiwgnpher, Washington. D c.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 8. W. HILLMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BALLS. N0 333,301. Patented Dec. 29 1885.

N PETERS. Photvliflwgraphur. Waahinginm D. Q

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

' ufaoturers, haveinvented Machinery for Makand the action is such thatif a straight-rod of 20 tion.

p 35 a plan.

40 tion. Fig. 16 is a plan of the finishing appa 5 A, similar to that ofa lathe, preferably of T- {UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILLM AN, OF PREMIER W'ORKS, OOVEN TRY, COUNTY OF \VARWIOK,ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-EIGHTHS TO WILLIAM HENRY HERBERT AND GEORGEBEVERLY COOPER, OF SAME PLACE.

- MACHINE FORMAKING BALLS.'

:ZEEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,301, datedDecember 29, 1885.

Application filed September 9, 1885. Serial No. 176,621. (No model.)

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HILLMAN, a: subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, resid-g 'ing at the Premier WVorks, Coventry, in the 5 countyofXVarwick, England,velocipede maning Balls or Spherical Rollers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention consists of'automatie machinery for making balls orspherical rollers,

round metal or other material, slightly larger than the size of theballs or rollers required to be made, be properly fixed in the machine iand the latter put in motion, a certain number of balls or rollers canbe made with so "little attention on the part of the operator that heis. able to attend to and to keep a number of similar machines inconstant opera- My invention is represented in the accompanyingdrawings, of which the following is a description. t

Figure 1 is afront elevation, Fig. 2is a plan, Fig. 3 is a left-hand endview, and Fig. 4 is a right-hand end view, of machinery constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the head stock.Fig. 6 is a back elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a similar view, butwith the lever a removed; and Fig. 7 is a plan of the running head-stockand parts carried thereby, and Fig. 8 is an under side view of part ofthe same. Figs. 9 and 10 are two opposite side elevations. Fig. 11 isFig. 12 is a cross-section drawn on the line 1 1 of Fig. 10; and Fig. 13is a front end elevation of the forming apparatus. Fig. 14 is a separatesectional View of the last pair of forming-cutters. Fig. 15 is a sideelevaratus, and Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the latter with thefront slide, front wheels, and some other parts removed.

The body of the machine consists of a bed,

shaped section, mounted upon legs or standards B, which may be of anyordinary or suitable form. A table or tray, 0, is fixed to the standardsB to catch the oil or other lubricating fluid used, and to receive theturnings. o Arunning head-stock, a,with suitable hollow mandrel, a, isfitted to slide along the bed A.'- The mandrel holds the bar or rod 00of metal or other material by means of a set-screw, a

as shown, (or it may be by a chuck,) and lo tates with it. Two brackets,D, are bolted to the bed A, one to each end thereof, and they carry insuitable bearings a feedscrew, b, a cam-shaft,c, and a maindriving-shaft, d. The driving-shaft d has on it a fly-wheel, which maybe used as a hand-wheel, ordinary fast and loose pulleys, (Z 11 and along drum-pulley, d*, (or it might be a sliding pulley,) whichcommunicates motion to the mandrel a of the running head-stock a, bymeans of a belt or chain, d passing partly around the pulley d andpartly around the pulley a fixed to the hollow mandrel a. g

1 The camshaft c is rotated at the necessary slow velocity in thefollowing manner: On the main driving-shaft d is fixed, asprocket-wheel,

d, which, by means of a chain, (2 gives motion to a sprocket-wheel, drevolving loosely on the cam-shaft c. To the sprocket-wheel d is fixed atoothed pinion, d", which meshes with a toothed wheel, d, to which isfixed a toothed pinion, d, which meshes with and gives motion to atoothed wheel, 0, fixed on the cam-shaft 0. The toothed wheel d andpinion d are mounted on a stud or axle, d

- fixed to an arm or lever, d, which is mounted on a stud, D, fixed toone of the brackets D, by which means the motion of thecarn-sha'ft '0can be instantly stopped by turning the arm or lever slightly on thestud D. Other suitable means may, however, be employed for communicatingthe necessary slow motion t the cam-shaft c.

The feed-screw 1) works in a nut, a, which is attached to the headstock,and which is c constructed and operated as follows: The nut a is formedin two halves, each of which is formed on or fixed to aslide, a whichhalfnuts and slides are capable of sliding in reverse directions to eachother on a guide-bar, 5 a", fixed to the running head-stock a. To thisguide-bar a is fixed a stud or axis, a", on which is mounted a lever, (iwhich is formed with parts of the nut a are separated from each motionof the running head-stock when it has arrived at a given position ofits-traverse The feed-screw b has an intermittent motion by the cam b onthe feed-screw b, acting against the stud or projection a, the twoother, so that the feed-screw b no longer acts upon the same, and themotion of the running head-stock a is thereby stopped. Other means may,however, be adopted for arresting the imparted to it by a segmentaltoothed wheel, e, which gears into aspurpinion, b keyed on :0 thefeed-screw b. The segmental toothed wheel e is keyed or otherwise fixedto the cam-shaft, and is like a spur-wheelwith some of its teethremoved. The teeth ofsuch mutilated toothed wheel e are preferably madeadjustable on their carryingdisk. The pitch of the feedscrew b ispreferably equal to the length of metal required to make one ball-thatis to say, if the machine is arranged for making balls offive-sixteenths of aninch in diameter, the feed-screw should have apitch of threeeighths of an inch, and the intermittent gear should giveit exactly one revolution for every ball that is made, so as to advancethe rod'or bar at the required distance. The pitch of the screw b andthe method of giving it the abovenamed intermittent motion may, however,be varied, provided that the screw 1) is caused to i give the requiredfeed to the rod or bar a; of

metal or other material within the limit of time during which thecutters are not in operation on the work.

The balls are formed by a row of cutters, 1 v 2 3 4, which are mountedon slides ff g g, and are moved to and from the work by links f g andduplex levers h, or by other suitable means. There are two pairs ofthese slides two at the back and two at the front of the work. They arefitted in the usual wayto a suitable slide-rest, i, which is fixed tothe bed A' of the machine at right angles with its length. y

The levers h have for their fulcra studs '5, .fixed at the back end ofthe slide-rest, one on each side thereof. Their power ends rest uponcams c, fixed on the camshaft c, which are shaped to give the slides,and consequently the cutters, the necessary slow feed for cutting, andallow them to return quickly and remain stationary while the feed to therod or bar a; is taking place. Weights h keep the levers h'in contactwith the peripheries of the cams c, and loose hearing or friction piecesh are fitted to the levers h,;.w-here they rest upon the cams c, andset-screws h are fitted throughthe levers h to act upon theseloosefriction or bearing pieces h, to adjust the traverse of the slides f f g9. Each pair f g of slides carries two pairs of cutters. The

two first pairs of forming or roughing cutters 1 2 are flat, somewhatsimilar to ordinary slide-rest lathe-tools in form and method of fixingto the slides, those on one side of the rod or bar a: being fixed withtheir cuttingfaces downward, and on the other side with theircutting-faces upward, all the cuttingfaces being on a line with the"center of the work. The third pair, 3, are hollow grindingcutters. Theyare held in and rotated by spindles g, mounted in suitable bearingscarried by the slide 9, and driven by belts g, which pass. aroundpulleys 9*, and thence around pulleys), fixed on a cross-shaft, j, whichre ceives its rotary motion from the driving-shaft d, by means ofbeveled wheels d j", or such spindles g may receive their rotarymotion'i-n other convenient manner. The fourth pair of cutters, 4, arealso hollow grinding --cutters held in and rotated by spindles 9,similar to those g of the third pair of cutters 3, and,

geared with them by spur-pinions These cutter-spindles g are preferablyhollow, as shown more clearly at Figs. 11 and 14,-and a springpush-piece, g, is inserted in each,

which is so arranged as to press against the ball while it is being cutoff from therod or bar av, and thereby prevent its being jammed intoeither of the cutters 4. The bar or rod w,

of metal or other material, rotates between the cutters l 2 3 4. in ahearing or guide, 6, which is fixed to the slide-rest z, and which hasslots or cavities to admit the cutters 1 2 3 4, where they act upon thework.

In addition to the above-described formingcutters 1 2 3 4. a pair offinishing-cutters, 5, are arranged at a lower level, so that when theball is cut off from the rod or bar it runs down a suitable way, y, andfalls between them and between a pair of oscillating planes, k, by

which they are rotated in every possible direction, so as to cause thefinishingputtersto act upon every part thereof. This finishing apparatusfurther consists of a slide-rest, -l, fixed at right-angles to the bedA, and having mounted thereon a pair of slides, m n, which are moved toand from the work by means of links m n,'andduplex lever 0, mounted on astud or axis, 1, fixed to the slide-rest l,'the power end of which lever0 rests upon a cam,

0 fixedon the'cam-shaftc, and such lever o may in some cases beprovidedwith aloose frictionor bearing piece where 'it rests upon the cam c,andwitha set-screw to act upon this loose friction or'bearing piece toadjust the traverse of the slides m n. Weights 0 are fixed on the leversoto keep them in contact with the cams c. On-these slides m n aremounted in suitable bearings apair of rotating shafts, m n, one on eachslide and in a direct linewith each other. Each of such shaits m a hason its front end a disk, at or n ,;-in which is fixed a crank-pin, m orn, on

which the-boss k of a lever, k, freely works, the end of such leverkbeingccntrolled by the arm thereof (which is suitably slotted)workinsure a firm grip of the ball. of the race should be equivalent tothe stroke removed altogether.

ing on a fixed stud, Z, so as to give, in combination with the crank-pinm or nflan oscillating eccentric motion to the boss thereof. The facesof the bosses k of these levers is form the pair of oscillating planesk, hereinbefore re ferred to, and they are preferably slightly groovedwith an annular groove or race to The diameter of the crank-pin. Thecrank-carrying shafts m a are rotated in the same direction and at thesame speed by suitable gearing from the main driving-shaft d,as follows:On the shaft dis fixed a beveled toothed pinion, d, which meshes with abeveled toothed wheel, p, fixed on a cross-shaft, p, on which are alsofixed toothed wheels 9 which mesh with and give motion to toothedpinions m if, fixed on the shafts m if. The arrangement of the shafts mn in respect to their erank-pins must be such that one crank-pin isalways half a revolution in advance of the other crank-pin. The ballorroller in process of being finished will then be rolled by theoscillating plane k of one lever kin diametrically-opposite directionsto the otherthat is to say, if the face of one lever is rolling the ballin directions which may be I described as up and to the right, the faceof the other lever will roll it down and to the left, the consequencebeing that the ball is kept revolving in one spot, irrespective of thecutters which act upon them, and will continue to so revolve if thefinishingcutters be The finishing-cutters 5 do not necessarily revolve.They are cylindrical and may be caused to separate from each other, or,as shown in the drawings, one may be fixed and the other caused to moveaway therefrom when required by means of a lever, q, actuated by a cam,0 on the cam-shaft d at the moment when the ball is cut off by the lastpair of forming-cutters 4, thereby allowing the finished ball to fallinto a trough, r,which conveys it to a suitable receptacle. In thisposition of the parts, a ball coming from the last pair offorming-cutters 4 is enabled to drop into position between suchfinishingcut- 'ters 5, a suitable support, s, being placed verticallyunderneath the said ball to hold it in position till the parts are againpressed forward, so as to bear againt the same. This support 8, as shownin the drawings, is a fixture; but when the machine is used for turnringcomparatively large balls, such as billiardballs, the'said support is amovable one, and

-is moved out of the way when the finished ball is ready to drop out.from between the oscillating planes in. i

The fixed finishing-cutter 5 is held rigidly, but with capability ofadjustment in a bearingiormed in a standard, Z", fixed to theslide-.rest I, and the movable finishing-cutter 5 is held in a mandrel, P,which is mounted with j capability of sliding in bearings formed in astandard, 1*, fixed to the slide-rest Z, such movable finishing-cutter,5 being pushed up, to its work by a spiral spring, Z acting againt a]boss on the mandrel Z and it is at the required times drawn back by themeans before described, while a screw-stop, 2, determines the distancebetween the two cutters 5.

If desired, the finishing mechanism may oonstitute a separate machine.

Where one machine only is used it is pro vided with an ordinary pumphaving suction and delivery valves, and is operated by an eccentric onthe drum-shaft automatically to pump the oil or other lubricating fluidfrom a well, 0, in the table or tray 0, to a reservoir, from which pipesconvey it to the various cutters, and where a number of these machinesare employed one large independent pump mounted in the ordinary way, maybe employed to supply the whole. I have not shown this arrangement inthe drawings, as such thenpassed through the hollow mandrel a" and fixedin position by the set-screw a so as to rotate therewith, the right-handend of the rod or bar as being supported by the bearing or guide 13, andbeing in position to be acted upon by the first pair of cutters, l,whichmake a groove in the same, representingaspace between a pair of balls orrollers. The cutters then separate, and the said rod or bar wis thenadvanced to the second pair of cutters, 2. which further act upon thesame so as roughlyto shape the balls or rollers. The cutters againseparate, and the rod or bar as is again advanced to the third pair ofcutters, 3, which nearly complete the formation, leaving onlya smallneck or connection between them, after which the cutters again separate,and the rod or bar as is advanced to the fourth pair of cutters, 4,which further finish the ball and cut it off from the rod or bar as,when the ball runs down the inclined way yand falls between the 1finishingcutters 5 and the oscillating rollingplanes k,where the smallprojection left thereon which formed the connection with the rod or baras is removed, and the ball or spherical roller finished in readiness(when made of". 3

steel) for the subsequent processes of hardening, grinding, andpolishing, which are conducted in the ordinary manner, except that asballs or spherical rollers made by myfmachinery are truer and moreuniform in size 3 than those made by the ordinary methods, less grindingis required after the hardening thereof.

After the finishing-cutters have completed their action on the ball orroller, they andthe oscillating planes 7c are caused to separate fromeach other, when the ball falls and is conducted by the trough to asuitable receptacle, as hereinbefore described.

I have shown and described cams, weights,

and springs for producing the reciprocating movements of the severalcutters and other 85 4 will be readily understood by the above de- 1ally-opposite points.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of my saidinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declarethat what I claim is 1. In a machine for making balls, the combination,with a rotary mandrel in which the blank-bar is secured and anintermittent feed,

-of a reciprocating cutter moved toward the axis of said blank duringthe intervals between the feeding actions, as set forth.

2. In a machine for making balls, the combination, with a rotary mandreland an intermittent feed, of a series of cutters for acting"simultaneously and each in succession upon a given part of the blank,as set forth.

3. In a machine for making balls, the combination, with a rotary mandreland a blankbar carried thereby, of a cylindrical cutterreciprocatingtransversely to the axis of the blank-bar, as set forth.

4. In a machine for making balls, the combination, with a rotarymandrel, of a cylindrical'cutter rotating upon its axis andreciprocating transversely to the axis of the blank,

as set forth. 7

5. In a machine for making balls, the com- -binationywith a rotarymandrel, of a pair of rotating cylindrical cutters reciprocated in theplane of their axes and bearing at diametrically opposite points uponthe blank, as set forth.

6. The combination, with a pair of reciproeating cutters, of a fulcrumedlever and apair of links connecting the respective cutters with "saidlever upon" opposite sides of its fulcrum,

as set forth.

7. The combination, with a pair of cutters and the slides to which theyare respectively secured, of a lever fulcrumed to the frame of themachine, links connecting the respective slides with said lever uponopposite sides of its fulcrum, and a cam for controlling the po- Isition of said lever, as set forth.

1 8. In a machine for making balls, the combination, with a rotarymandrel carrying the blank-bar and an intermittent feed for moving saidblank-bar forward, of a seriesof cutters operating successively in theformation of the ball 'reciprocated alternately with the feed, as 1explained.

9. The combination, with two rotary cutters and a block in which theyare mounted side byside, of intermeshing pinions secured to theirspindles and means for rotating one of said spindles, as set forth.

10. The combination, with a cylindrical cutter, of a spring push-piecelocated within said cutter, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for making balls, a pair of planes bearing uponopposite sides of the ball and moved in a circular direction, incombination with the finishing-cutter, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the finishingcutter, of a pair of planesbearing against opposite sides of the ball and moved in a circulardirection, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the finishingcutter, of a pair of planesbearing against the ball at diametrically-opposite points, and moved inthe same circular direction, one in advance of the other, as and for thepurpose set forth.

14. The combination, with the finishingcutter, of a pair of planesbearingv against said ball at diametrically-opposite points, and 'a pairof wrist-pins to which said planers are secured, said wrist-pins beingplaced one in advance of the other and moved in the same direction, asset'forth.

15. In a machine for-making balls, the combination, with the forming-cutters and a trough or chute, of the finishing-cutters and a rest forsupporting the ball between said cutters while they are closingtogether, substantially as set forth.

16. In a machine for making balls, the combination of a pair offinishing-cutters and a 3 spring for forcing them together, as setforth.

17. The combination, with a pair of finishing-cutters and a spring forforcing them together, of a stop for limiting their approach,substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, with a pair of cutters and a spring for forcingthem together, of .a cam for opening them, as set forth.

19. In a machine for making balls, the combination of a rotary mandrelcarrying the blank-bar, an intermittent feed, a series of cutters actingsimultaneously'and each in succession upon a given portion of the blank,

and a pair of finishing-cutters, substantially as setforth.

.20. The combination, with the headstock, of a lever fulcrumed thereto,a two-part nut connected with said lever upon opposite sides of itsfulcrum, and the feedscrew withwhich said nut meshes, substantially asset forth.

21. The combination, with the rotary mandrel, of the non-rotatingcutters for channeling the blank-bar and the rotating cylindricalcutters for shaping the ball, substantially as set forth. 1

22. The combination, with the rotary mandrel carrying the blank-bar, ofthe series-of cutters for acting simultaneously and ea'ch'in successionupon a given portion of said bar and a support or guide located betweeneaeh'pjtwo eutters,as set forth. 7

I 10 as set forth.

25. In a machine forlfinishing balls, the

combination, with means for imparting rotation thereto, of a pair offinishing-cutters pressed into contact with the ball at opposite points,as set forth.

WILLIAM HILLMAN.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN HERBERT NORTON, 1 Clifton Terrace, Lower Ford Street, Coventry.

J OSEPH WALSGROVE,

Wheatley Street, Coventry.

